Car-coupler uncoupling mechanism



May 31,

1,630,481 J. T. FITZPATRICK CAR COUPLER UNCOUPLING MECHANISM FiledDeG.17, 1925 Patented May 31, 1927.

y UNITED sTATss i 1,53a48i JOI-IN THOMAS FITZPATRICK, OF ST, LOUIS,MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR, BY ASSIGN- MENTS, TO HUTCHINS CAR ROOFING GOMFANY,GF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A COR" PORATION OF DELAWARE.

CAR-COUPLER UNGOUPLING JlIIEC-IANISM.

Application inea December i?, 1923. serial no. 681,257; y

The invention relates to car coupler un-` couphng mechanism of that typecomprising a rock sha'lt having an operating handle the side of the carand an arm at the center` of the car operatively connected to thecoupling pin. It is the primary object of the invention to provide aconstruction which will permit automatic separation of the parts of theuncoupling mechanism in case the coupler should break away from itsdraft rigging. Such yparting of the coupler is not an infrequentoccurrence and my improved construction is one which will not bedestroyed in such an event. The invention further consists in variousfeatures of construction as hereinafter' set forth.

In the drawings:

Figure l is an end elevation of the car with the coupling mechanismmounted thereon;

Figure 2 is a plan view thereof;

Figure 3 is a side elevation;

Figure l is a perspective view illustrating the automatic disengagementof the link from its operating arm;

Figure 5 is a horizontal section thereof.

Agis a rod extending from the sides to the center of the car and havingat its outer end the depending rock arm B outwardly offset at C toprovide a handle clearing the end sill of the car. At the inner end thisrod is provided with a horizontally extending rock arm D having abifurcated outer end E, while the outer ends of the furcations are bentinward to form a narrow slot F with a flaring entrance F from the widerslot F2 betweenthe furcations. G is a link for connecting the rock arm Dwith the coupling pin H. This link is formed with a T-shaped head Ivhaving a horizontally extending shank J and the downwardly extendingvertical shank portion K terminating in a loop Il for engaging the eyeof the pin H. The horizontal portion J is of a wedge-shaped crosssection such that when the link G is turned horizontally and drawnoutward, the portion J will engage with the flaring por tion F and willspread the furcations passing through the slot F. M are bearing 1nembers engaging the rock shaft A and formed integral with supportingbrackets N, bolted or otherwise secured to the end sill of the car.

llVith the construction as described, in

mounting the device upon the car the bearings M may be readily engagedwith the handle C and sleeved over the rod to their respectivepositions. This is rendered possible by forming the eye of each bearingwith .suliicient clearance and sufficiently .rounded so as to pass aboutthe bends in the rod.. The brackets N are then bolted in position andthe link G is engaged with the coupler pin, after which the T-head I maybe Ainserted through the slot F and turned into the `position shown inFigure 3. In this position all longitudinal and lateral movements of thecoupler incident to the movement of the cars are permitted withoutthrowing any stress upon either the link Gr or the rock arm D. If,however, the coupler should part from its draft rigging, the outwardmovement of the pin H will draw the link G into substantially horizontalposition and will engage the wedge-shaped shank J with the flaringportion F. This, as previously described, will result in spreading thefurcations E, so that the link will pass through the slot F and bereleased. Such operation will not seriously damage the mechanism for thefurcations E can be readily pressed together again.

T.hat I claim as my invention is:

1. In a car coupler releasing mechanism, the combination with theoperaiting rock shaft and means for pivotally connecting the same to thecar body. of a rock arm extending outward from said shaft above thecoupler having a bifurcated outer end with the extreme end portionsthereof bent towards each other. and a link for connecting the pin tosaid rock arm having a portion for spreading the furcations upon anabnormal outward movement of the coupler.

Q. A car coupler releasing mechanism comprising a pin lifting rock armand a link for connecting said rock arm to the coupler pin, one of saidparts being` provided with partly closed furcations and the other with aportion between said furcations adapted to spread the same on anabnormal outward movement of the coupler.

3. A car coupler releasing mechanism comprising a rock arm having abifurcated outer end partly closed, a link for connecting the couplerlock pin with said rock arm having titl a vertical` portion normallyextending between said t'urcations, a horizontally extending portionabove the fnreations and a head portion at the end of said horizontalportion7 said horizontal portion being adapted to assume a verticalposition upon an abnormal outward movement o'l" the coupler and being ota section for spreading the turca-tions to effect a release therefrom.

4. A car coupler releasing mechanism comprising a rock arm having abiturcated outer end partly closed, a link for connecting the couplerlool; :pin Withsaid rock arm comprisinf;r a shank portion having an eyeat its lower end engaging the pin, a shank portion normally projecting`vertically between the nrcations of saidroel arm, a horizontallyextending portion above said furcations and of a wedgelshaped crossVsection and a T- head at: the end lot said horizontal portion, said linkbeingadaptedon an abnormal out- Ward movement of the coupler to .pullthe wedge-shaped portion thereof into a snbstantiall;T Vertical position`and to thereby spread the tnreations of the rook arm and eiiect arelease.

5. In a ear coupler releasing,r mechanism including a coupling pin, alink connected with `said `eoirpler pin, operating" means for liftingsaid pin and a connection between said operating;l means and said linknormalllir `maintaining the link and operatingr meansin adapted to bedistorted, and a second member `normally interengaged therewith, saidmembers being provided with cooperating portions for Causing saiddistortion tliereliy effecting automatic disengagement thereof on anabnormal outward movenient ol' the coupler.` i

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature.

J OHN THOMAS FITZIPATRICK.

